Improvement in railroad-ticket printing-presses



UNITED STATES PATENT Genion.

VALTER H. FORBUSH, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY G.LEISENRING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD-TICKET PRINTING-PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,533, dated November6, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WALTER H. FoRBUsH, of the city of Buffalo, in thecount-y of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Railroad- Ticket Printing-Presses, and that Ihave assigned my whole interest in the said invention and improvementsto HENRY G. LEISEN- RING, ofthe city of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania; and I do hereby declare that l theA following1 is a full,clear, and exact description of my said invention and improvements,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure I, Sheet I, represents the same in sideelevation. Fig. II, Sheet II, is a longitudinal sectional elevation.Fig. III, Sheet III, is a cross-sectional elevation. Fig. IV, Sheet IV,is a plan of feeding mechanism. FigV, Sheet IV, is a detail view of oneof the nippers. Fig. VI is a section of the suspension-bolts whichconnect the platen to the cross-head.

My invention consists in improvements in certain mechanism, herein fullydescribed, for printing railroad-tickets from previously cut sheets ofpaper or card-board, in two colors, and consecutively numbering the sameat one passage of each sheet or ticket through the y press.

l represents thebed-plate, upon which the sheets of paper lie whilereceiving the impression fromthe type, it resting upon the iianges orshoulders Al on the inside of the side frames A, and being securelybolted thereto. C represents the cross-head, which carries the platenGl, holding the forms of type UZ U3. This -cross-head reciprocates toand from and at right angles to the bed-plate, moving between jaws A2,which are part of the side frames A.

The platen O1 is connected to the cross-head at its four cornersbysuspension-bolts O4, passing up through the platen and through thearms (l5, projecting from the cross-head, or rather through hollowimpression-screws C6, screwing through said arms and bearing upon theupper side of the platen. By turning these impression-screws up or down,as occasion requires, (the suspension bolts turning' with them,) theplaten may be raised or lowered on the cross-head in a manner to securea proper impression of the forms on the bed-plate. -A longitudinalgroove is made in the platen, into which the cross-head lits, as shownat OT, vertical but no lateral play being allowed, so that when theimpression-screws are set the platen and cross-head are joined rigidlytogether.

D represents the crank-shaft, havin g journalbearings in the side framesbelow the bedplate and in line with the jaws in which the cross-headmoves. This shaft carries crankwheels D1, one on each end thereof, andoutside of the side frames A. From the crankpins D2 of these wheelsextend the side oo nnecting-rods D3, taking hold of the ends of thecross-head G, which are projected beyond the side frames for thatpurpose. The revolution of the crank-shaft thus gives the requiredreciprocating motion to the cross-head and the platen and forms of typeconnected therewith.

The crank-wheels are made of as large a diameter as possible, and uponthe side opposite the crank-pins have countcrbalance-weights D4 attachedto or cast in them, sufficient to balance the weight of the cross-head,platen, and forms of type, so that their motion may be steady andwithout jerk or jar.

E represents the main driving-shaft, having bearings in the side frames,and carrying a pinion, E1, at one end, gearing with cogs cut -in theperiphery of one of the crank-wheels,

mits its convenient attachment to or removal from theplaten. The firstform contains such portion of the subject-matter of the ticket as isdesired to print in a certain color, (say, black,) and the second formsuch other part of the subject-matter as it is desired to print in someother color, (say, red,) the relative position of the two forms beingsuch that, supposing an impression of the first form to be taken, andthe sheet carried directly forward to an impression of the second forni,the double impression will give the whole subject-matter of the ticketproperly spaced and. arranged.

In addition to the forms of type, the crosshead carries, by means ofextensions C10 of its arms C5, a crossbar,Cl1, to which one or morenumbering-wheels, C, may be attached for the purpose of numbering thesheets or tickets as they pass through the press.

The bed-plate B is made wide enough to receive the impression of bothforms of type and the numbering-wheels.

From the foregoing it appears that each sheet must be passed to threesuccessive impressions, viz.: to the iirst and second, which print thesubject-matter, and to the third,.

which numbers, the distance between the first and second form and thesecond form and the numbering-wheels being made, by construction, suchthat equal progressive movements of the sheet will carry it from one tothe other. The following described mechanism accomplishes the result.

Feed/ing mechanism-. -F represents two endless chains passinglongitudinally around the` bed-plate near each side thereof, and runningover chain-wheels F1, carried in pairs by shafts Fz extending across theends of the bed-plate, said shafts turningin journal-brasses fitted tojaws projecting from the corners of the bedplate. Grooves are cut in thesurface of the bed-plate, which receive the upper stretchers of thechains, so that their upper edge may be iiush with the surface of thebed-plate.

G represents the nipper bars or slats, eX-4 tending across thebed-plate, and connected at their ends to the chains F F, equidistantfrom and parallel to each other, their distance apart being made justequal to the distance a sheet is required to move in passing from oneform to the other, as before mentioned.

Each nipper-bar carries two, four, or more nippers, Gl, each nippcrconsisting` of two thin steel plates, the one riveted to the under sideof the bar, and projecting backward from its edge a short distance, andthe other secured by screws at one end to the upper side of the bar, itsfree end being bent to a right angle, and nipping tightly on theprojecting end of the lower plate. (See Fig. V, Sheet IV.) The downwardbend of 'the upper plate of the nipper is notched out, as shown at G2,to permit the opening of the nipper to receive or discharge a sheet, aswill hereinafter be described.

An intermittent progressive movement is given to the nipper-bars asfollows: A ratchetwheel, H, is keyed on one end of the front chain-wheelshaft F2, into the teeth of which a* pawl, H1, works, said pawl beingcarried by a loose pinion, H2, on the same shaft as the ratchet, thepinion having a vibrating movement given to it by the reciprocatingmovement of a rack-bar, H3, receiving its movement from an eccentric,H4, upon the crank-shaft. The pawl lill engages a tooth of the ratchetduring the forward vibration of the pinion, and causes theshaft F? tomove with it, thus advancing the nipper-bars a certain distance. Duringthe return vibration of the pinion, for

the pawl to take a new hold on the ratchetteeth, the nipper-bars areleft in the position to which they were advanced.

The movement of the pinion bears such relation to the size of thechaiirwheels that it will advance the nipper-bars a distance just equalto their distance apart, so that each movement will bring any one ofthem into the position just before occupied bythe one in advancethereof.

rIhe position of the eccentric with reference to the cranks is such thatthe cross-head will have begun to rise before the nipper-bars begin toadvance, which will insure thembeing.

at rest when the cross-head is down and the impression being taken.

The position of the nip'pers when at rest is such that the sheets whichthey hold shall be in position tofreceive the impression of the forms.By always locking the forms, whether f large or small.with their frontedges to the saine sidefof their respect-ive chases, this atrestposition of the nippers never requires to be changed, but accommodatesall forms large or small.

The sheets are fed to the iirst set of nippers above the bed-plate, anddischarged from the last7 both operations being performedsimultaneously, and while the nippers are at rest.

The opening of the nippers to receive the sheet is effected as follows:A rock-shaft, I, extends across the front end of the bed-plate, directlyover the at-rest position of the first Dipper-bar, being supported ateach end by brackets J bolted to the bed-plate outside of A the chaingrooves. rlhis shaft carries the nipper-openers I, corresponding innumber and position to the nippers on each bar. The openers are wedges,which by the movement of the rock-shaft I swing into the notches G2 ofthe nippers, and spring the upper plate thereof upward. A clamp-bar, J1,hinged to the brackets J is thrown down upon the nipper-bar, before theopeners enter the nippers, by the action of cams J3 on the rock-shaft I,sothat the nipper-bar is held perfectly rm and rigid during the openingof the nippers. The rock-shaft receives its movement from a cam, K, onthe crank-shaft, connecting with a lever-arm, K1, at one end of therock-shaft by a connecting-rod, K2. The form of this cam and itsposition upon the crank-'shaft with ref. erence to the feed-eccentric H4is such that vit gives movement to the rock-shaft to clamp thenipper-bar and open the nippers immediately after they have come torest, and to raise the clamp-bar and close the nippers before their nextforward movement begins.

As the feed-eccentric allows the nippers to remain at rest one-half ofthe revolution of the crank-shaft, the cam K may be made to give therequired movement to the rock-shaft and hold the nippers open one-third(or nearly so) of a revolution, which gives ample time for theintroduction of a sheet therein.

rlhe sheets are -fed from a table, K2, the surface of which standsslightly above the lower plate of the nippers, so that the introductionof the sheet is made sure and easy.

The opening of the last set of nippers and the discharge of the printedsheet are effected as follows: A rock-shaft, L, with its openers L1 andclamp-bar L2, is arranged over the last nipper-bar, the same asdescribed for the tirst nipper-bar, its motion bein g obtained from thelever-arm K`L of the rst, through a connecting-rod, K4, reaching to asimilar lever-arm, K5, at its end.

After the nippers are opened the sheet is withdrawn from them by a setof fingers, L3,-

attached to a cross-bar, L4.l moved backward and forward by means of thecams L5 on the rock-shaft L. The cross-bar moves in slotted arms L6,which are part of the clamp-bar, so that the fingers are made to partakeof theupand-down movement of the clamp-bar, in addition to thebackand-forth movement given to them by the cams L5. Hence, as the clamp-bar moves down on the nipper-banthe lingers L2 strike in between thefrontedge of the sheet and the nipper-bar, and as the openers enter thenippers and release vthe ticket, the backward movement of the lingersgiven by the cams withdraws the ticket therefrom. 'The upward movementof the clamp-bar raises the drawont fingers with it, so that the sheetmay pass forward under them. The sheet, as it is withdrawn from thenippers, is received on tapes L7, passing from a loose spring-roller, L,around tape-wheels L, secured to the chainwheel shaft and movingtherewith, so that at the next movement of the nippers the tapes carrythe withdrawn sheet forward and discharge on it a receiving-table, L10.

Inkiag/ mecham'sm..-h/I represent the fountain ink-rollers, arranged oneon each side of `the platen, they being supported by arms M',

hinged to the jaws A2 of the side frames.

N represents the form-inking rollers, each of which, starting fromcontact with its fomitain-roller, moves over the adjacent form andreturns, so that by supplying each fountainroller with adifterent-colored ink the forms may be inked in different colors withoutconlict.

rlhe motion of the inking-rollers is obtained as follows: Nl arerock-shafts, located one on each side of and equidistant from thecrankshaft, and having bearings in the side frames. Each shaft carriestwo long arms or levers, N2, and a short arm,N3, with a stud-roller atits end,

working in a cam, N4, on the crank-shaft, by which a vibrating motion isgiven to the levers N2. To the vibrating ends of said levers radius-armsN5 are hinged, the free ends of which carry the hiking-rollers N,supported thereon by spring-bearings N6, the vibration of the leverscarrying the inkiu g-rollers over the forms, as required.

O are grooved slides, attached to the under side ot' the platen at theends thereof, and parallel to the face of the forms. Stud-rollers Ol,projecting sidewise from the free ends ofthe radius-arms, run in theseslides as the rollers travel over the forms, which causes the radiusarmsand the rollers they carry to rise and fall with the platen as they passin and out over the forms.

The shape of the inking-roller cams N4 is such that they will hold theinking-rollers back against the fountain-rollers during one-half ortwo-thirds of their revolution, or sufficient to receive a properquantity of ink therefrom; and their relative position to the cranksgiving motion to the platen is such that the iukingrollers will reachthe limitof their forward vibration at the same time that the platenreaches the limit of its upward movement, so that both platen andhiking-rollers change the direction of their movement at the same time.

While in contact with the fountain-rollers the inking-rollers aresupported by the studrollers Ol of the radius-arms resting uponpermanent bearings 02 bolted to the side frames, which, when the platenis at a certain point of its upward or downward movement, formextensions of the under lip or iianges of the grooved slides O. v Thisalignment ,of the bearers O2 with the grooved slides O during the upwardmovement of the platen, takes place just as the inking-rollers in theirforward movement reach the grooved slides, so that they pass fairly fromthe bearers into the slides. It occurs again during the downwardmovement of the platen, just as the inkingrollers in their returnmovement reach the bearers, so that they pass fairly from the slides onto the bearers.

rlhe slides O being parallel to the face of theforms, the inking-rollersmust necessarily move parallel thereto, although their movement iscompounded with the movement of the platen. A perfect rolling of theform is the result of this parallel movement.

Motion is given to the fountain ink-rollers to supply the 'formink-rollers, as follows: P represents gearsegments, supported by studsPl projecting from the right-hand-side frame, said segments gearing withpinions P2 on the ends of the fountain-roller shafts. A vibrating motionis given to the segments from the crank-pin D2 on that side through theconnecting-rods P2. rEhe vibration of the segments gives analternately-reversed rotary motion to the fountain-rollers, whichdistributes the ink to the form-rollers while the same are in contacttherewith, as before stated.

Each fountain-roller is provided with a distributing-roller, P4,Which'is held in close contact therewith by springs P5 pressing upon itsbearing-boxes, so that it may turn with the fountain-roller, it having ascrew-thread, P6, cut at one end and Working through a boxnut, whichcauses it to vibrate longitudinally upon the fountain-roller.

Smmnao'g/ of movements-The first sheet, after making two of itsprogressive movements, reaches its position to receive the impression ofthe first form. The next progressive movement carries it totheimpression of the second form and brings the second sheet forward tothe impression of the iirst form. The next progressive movement carriesthe first sheet to the impression of numbering-wheels, the second sheetto the impression of the second form, and the third sheet to th'eimpression of the iirst, this impression on the three sheets being givenby same downward movement ot' the platen, and completing the print-in gof the first sheet. The next downward movement of the platen completesthe printing of the second sheet, which has been properly progressed bythe movement of the nippers, the first being withdrawn from the nippersand lying` upon the discharge-tapes, so that at the next progressivemovement itis discharged onto the receiving-table. From this time acompleted sheet is discharged at each impression of thel platen.

After each impression the hiking-rollers pass over their respectiveforms and supply them with ink for their hext impression.

Although the feeding mechanism, as described, is calculated to carry asheet to three successive impressions, yet it is evident that it may bemodified to carry the sheet to only one impression, or extended to carryit to more than three, without changing th'enature of the devices used.

It is evident, also, that the inking mechanism may be used in a presshaving only one form to ink.

Having thus described my improved printing-press, what I claim thereinas new, and desire .to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of the wedge-openers I', or their equivalent, withthe nippers G, having an intermittent feed movement, constructed andoperating substantially as described.

2. The draw-out fingers L3, operating, in connection with thewedge-openers, to remove the sheets from the nippers G1, substantiallyas set forth.

3. The grooved slides O, attached to the platen parallel to the face ofthe form, and carrying the inking roller or rollers over the form, inthe manner and for the purpose sub stantially as described.

4. rlhe arrangement of the inking roller cams N4, radius-arms N5,supported upon the vibrating levers N2, and carrying the formin kingrollers N, combined with the grooved slides 0 and permanent bearers O2,so that the inking-rollers will reach the limit of their forwardvibration at the saine time the platen reaches the limit of its upwardmovement, and so that both platen .and inking-rollers change thedirection of their movement at the same time, substantially asdescribed.

5. The fountain ink-rollers, in combination with segments P, whichreceive their motion from one of the cranks D2, for the purpose andsubstantially as set forth.

6. Attachingpthe platen to the cross-head by the combinedsuspension-bolts C4 and impression-screws CG, in the manner and for thepurpose set forth.

7. The clamp-bars J1 and L4, (either or both,.) arranged and operatingsubstantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

WALTER H. FORBUSH.

vWitnesses:

P. T. DODGE, N. G. DODGE.

